Recommendation-based electronic program guide with multiple modes of operation

Abstract

A novel electronic program guide (EPG) and its associated method allows a viewer/user to navigate through a multitude of programs and locate a program or programs of interest using three contemporaneously available, distinct modes of operation which depend on the degree to which the viewer/user is decided regarding programs to view or reproduce.

1. Via a graphical user interface, a method for allowing a user to navigate through and select programming of interest, the method comprising:
 providing multiple programs for viewing or reproduction;  
 generating an interactive graphical user interface;  
 displaying via a common display, selected programs and a program guide when desired;  
 in response to user input, locating programs of interest in a plurality of distinct viewing modes corresponding to respective levels of a user's decisiveness regarding programs to view or reproduce, the viewing modes being accessible via the common display.  
 
     
     
       2. The method in  claim 1 , wherein for a first mode of operation, the method further comprises:
 providing a recommended programs area on said display;  
 providing at least one recommended program in said recommended programs area from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction.  
 
     
     
       3. The method in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 compiling a user profile comprising previous programs viewed or reproduced by a user;  
 wherein the recommended programs are determined in response to said user profile.  
 
     
     
       4. The method in  claim 2 , wherein the recommended programs are determined by a service provider having control over the step of providing multiple programs. 
     
     
       5. The method in  claim 2 , wherein said recommended programs are presented in a ranked order or recommendation. 
     
     
       6. The method in  claim 1 , wherein for a second mode of operation, the method further comprises:
 providing a program criterion area on the display;  
 via the program criterion area, receiving program criterion information from a user;  
 providing a recommended programs area on the display;  
 in response to the program criterion information, providing at least one recommended program in the recommended programs area from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction.  
 
     
     
       7. The method in  claim 6 , wherein the program criterion information includes program genres. 
     
     
       8. The method in  claim 6 , wherein the program criterion information includes program ratings. 
     
     
       9. The method in  claim 6 , wherein the program criterion information includes program lengths. 
     
     
       10. The method in  claim 1 , wherein for a third mode of operation, the method further comprises:
 providing a program entry area on the display;  
 via the program entry area, receiving program identity information from a user;  
 in response to the program identity information, providing links to identified programs from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction.  
 
     
     
       11. A graphical user interface for allowing a user to navigate through and select programming of interest, the graphical user interface comprising:
 a multiple program source adapted to provide multiple programs for viewing or reproduction;  
 a graphical user interface display generator adapted to generate a display;  
 a graphical user interface controller adapted to control the operation of said graphical user interface;  
 wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to enable the user, via a common display, to locate programs of interest in a plurality of distinct viewing modes corresponding to a level of the user's decisiveness regarding desirable programs to view or reproduce, all viewing modes being accessible via a common display.  
 
     
     
       12. The graphical user interface in  claim 11 , wherein for a first mode of operation, the display comprises a recommended programs area, and at least one recommended program is displayed in the recommended programs area from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction. 
     
     
       13. The graphical user interface in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a user profile compiler adapted to compile a user profile comprising previous programs viewed or reproduced by a user;  
 wherein the recommended programs are determined in response to the user profile.  
 
     
     
       14. The graphical user interface in  claim 12 , wherein the recommended programs are determined by a service provider having control over the multiple program source. 
     
     
       15. The graphical user interface in  claim 12 , wherein the recommended programs are presented in a ranked order or recommendation. 
     
     
       16. The graphical user interface in  claim 11 , wherein for a second mode of operation, the display comprises a program criterion area, program criterion information is received via the program criterion area from a user, and in response to the program criterion information, at least one recommended program is displayed in the recommended programs area from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction. 
     
     
       17. The graphical user interface in  claim 16 , wherein the program criterion information includes program genres. 
     
     
       18. The graphical user interface in  claim 16 , wherein the program criterion information includes program ratings. 
     
     
       19. The graphical user interface in  claim 16 , wherein the program criterion information includes program lengths. 
     
     
       20. The graphical user interface in  claim 11 , wherein for a third mode of operation, the display comprises a program entry area, program identity information is received via the program entry area from a user, and in response to the program identity information, at least one identified program is displayed in the recommended programs area from which a user can select for viewing or reproduction.